(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Iran's Persepolis celebrated their return to the AFC Champions League after a three-year absence with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Qatari champions Lekhwiya yesterday in the Group A opener at Azadi Stadium here.
After a goalless first half, Persepolis netted twice in six minutes as first Mohsen Bengar headed home on the 60th minute before Hadi Norozi added a second shortly after.
Persepolis captain Mohammad Noori then added the game's third and final goal from the penalty spot with seven minutes remaining as the Iran Pro League side reaped the rewards of their second-half dominance.
Although Persepolis had more possession in the first half, they couldn't create too many chances on goal.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Lekhwiya's striker Sebastian Soria narrowly missed with a header but the game didn't have any flow with both sides cancelling each other out before the opener arrived on the hour mark.
Gabriel redeemed himself for his first-half miss when his venomous free-kick into the penalty area from wide on the right was met by a thumping header from defender Bengar who directed it into the right-hand corner of the net.
And just five minutes later Persepolis doubled their advantage.
Lekhwiya tried to claw back into the game but found that their attacks were reduced to efforts from range, although Korea Republic midfielder Nam Tae-hee's 20-yard strike needed a firm hand from Persepolis goalkeeper Sousha Makani to tip the ball over the crossbar.
But with Lekhwiya committing numbers forward, they looked vulnerable on the counter-attack, and as Noori looked to take advantage of the vulnerable backline, he was hauled back by Mohamed Musa inside the penalty area.
The Persepolis captain took the resulting spot-kick himself and converted emphatically, placing the ball high into the top right-hand corner while sending Lekhwiya goalkeeper Amine Lecomte the wrong way.
And Omid Alishah could have made it four in stoppage time as Gabriel's defence-splitting pass fell perfectly into the midfielder's path as he raced through on goal, but his first-time effort zipped narrowly wide of the far post.
Today, current Qatar Stars League leaders Al Sadd will face Iranian club Foolad in a Group C clash.
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